Apparatus for labelling containers made of thermoplastic synthetic material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for labelling containers made of thermoplastic synthetic material, which are produced in an apparatus having two circular tracks having production half-moulds arranged at uniform distance apart and mutually co-operating in pairs. A stock of labels and a label grab are provided adjacent one of the circular tracks on the side remote from the other circular track, the grab placing a label in an outwardly open half-mould of each pair. This label is retained in this half-mould until the formation of the containers and adheres to the formed container.

cs. HANSEN 3,726,746 APPARATUS FOR LABELLILNG CONTAlNLRS MADE MOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Filed July 13, 1970 April 10, 1973 OF THEE uvmvroa Ham 6 n GQAML United States Patent 3,726,746 APPARATUS FOR LABELLING CONTAINERS MADE OF THERMOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC MATERIAL Gerhard Hansen, Hofener Strasse 47, D7013 Oeifingen, Kreis Waiblingen, Germany Filed July 13, 1970, Ser. No. 54,132 Claims priority, application Germany, July 18, 1969, P 19 36 647.3 Int. Cl. B32b 31/20; B65c 3/14 US. Cl. 156566 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to apparatus for labelling containers made of thermoplastic synthetic material, and in particular containers which are adapted to be produced in an apparatus having two circular tracks having halfmoulds arranged at the same distance apart and mutually co-operating in pairs.

A very large number of containers can be produced, filled and closed per unit of time in such an apparatus. It has proved very expensive to provide these containers subsequently with labels.

The object of the present invention is to apply labels to the containers during the process of production.

According to the invention apparatus for labelling containers made from thermoplastic synthetic material comprises two circular tracks having mutually cooperating pairs of half-moulds arranged at uniform distances, a label grab provided adjacent one circular track at a side remote from the other circular track arranged to transfer a label from a supply to an outwardly open half-mould, and means for holding the label in this half-mould until the production of the container.

In one embodiment a stock of labels is provided at one circular track on the side remote from the other circular track and a label grab which disposes a label in the outwardly open half-mould, the label being held therein until the production of a container. In this way it is possible, to provide the containers being produced with labels without interruption of the continuous process of production, the labels being applied thereto during the production process so that subsequent application of labels is not necessary and thereby a saving of time is achieved.

As a development the label grab is designed as a suction grab by which one label is to be taken each time from a label container or store and is adapted to deliver the label onto the half-mould whilst running parallel with the half-mould by alteration of the pressure ratio in the grab, the label being held in the half-moulds under low pressure. The low pressure in the suction grab can be controlled in a sensitive manner so that with this a label can be taken from the reservoir or supply with safety and conveyed with safety by the grab to the half-moulds concerned. During the parallel running in synchronisation of the half-moulds and the grab there is sufiicient time for the label to be taken over or transferred with increase of 3,726,746 Patented Apr. 10, 1973 pressure in the suction grab. The label is held securely in the half-moulds by means of reduced pressure. If the container is to be inflated employing reduced pressure, it is an advantage if the label is porous and the reduced pressure exerted on the half-moulds is thereby allowed to remain effective until the container is produced.

It has proved to be of particular advantage it several grabs for the labels are arranged on one circular track and are adapted to be driven at the same speed as the half-moulds. In this way the circular track for the halfmoulds can have associated therewith a circular track for the label grabs which is driven at the same speed. The label grab then only requires to travel a short distance to carry out its function. The stock of labels may be arranged at the free side of the circular track at a favourable position.

The label grab may be mounted on a work cylinder arranged, at least in the delivery position, with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the half-moulds. This cylinder is adapted to be operated in a simple and sure manner. It is of particular advantage if the work cylinder is adapted to be moved towards the half-moulds by means of a spring, and away from them under the action of a pressure medium. The spring can be so tuned that the grab, in each case, rests against the stock of labels with the pressure necessary to take a label therefrom and against the half-moulds so as to deliver the label, and the pressure of application may be different at each respective position.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment, with possible modifications, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which shows schematically an apparatus for the labelling of containers made of thermoplastic synthetic material in front elevation.

The apparatus for the production, filling and closing of a container made of thermoplastic synthetic material may be of a suitable kind and in the following description only those parts of this container-making apparatus are described which co-operate with the apparatus for labelling.

A mounting plate 1d has a foot 2d for erection on the floor or on a base. Mounting pins are secured on the plate 1d and serve to carry chain wheels 5 and 7 and chain wheels arranged therebehind. An endless chain runs respectively over two chain wheels 5 and 7 arranged above one another. The two chains arranged behind one another are connected together by carrier plates 11 at equal distances apart, each of which carries a half-mould 12 with which a head piece mould 13 is associated.

Front wheels 17, 19 are mounted on the carrier plates 11 and also rear wheels 20, 21 which have a different width of track than the front wheels and consequently are guided on other rails, of the circular track shown on the left of the drawing.

The head piece mould 13 is adapted to move or displace at right angles to the plate 11. It is adapted to be displaced by means of a wheel 29 guided on a separate application rail 30. The application rails, of which rails 22, 24 and 30 are shown, are mounted on a rail plate 32, which is arranged on the mounting plate 1d. A hoop 34 is adapted to be attached to a source of reduced pressure. A distributor 35 or 35a respectively is rotatably mounted at each end of the hoop and sealed off by means of sealing rings. The distributor 35 has a bore for the half-moulds 12 and the head-mould parts 13 of the left-hand annular track, respectively connected through a resilient tube each having a valve leading to a reduced pressure chamber of the half-moulds 12 or of the head-mould part 13. The valves are adapted to be controlled by means of control rails which are mounted on a web 44 connecting the pegs or pins for the chain wheels 5, 7 and act on the pivotal lever or operating member of the valves.

A travel plate 45, 46 is provided respectively on the side remote from the application rails 22, 24. Displacement pins mounted thereon are respectively adapted to displace axially in a bearing 48 which is secured on the rail plate 32. A spring 49 disposed between the travel plate 45 or 46 and the displacement bearing 48 urges the travel plate 45 or 46 away from the rail plate 32. The springs 49 serve to tension the chains.

The application rails 22, 24 are so designed that the carrier plates 11 and 11a lie parallel to one another shortly before the half-moulds belonging to one another and carried by them are brought together and joined together in a form-locking manner by means of their connectors (not shown). The two half-moulds are also re-separated in the parallel position.

The right-hand annular track corresponds to the left hand one described above, similar parts being provided with the same reference numbers but the parts of the lefthand one also have the suifix letter a.

A cylindrical housing 63, provided with an attachment neck 62, is screwed onto the mounting plate 1 above the closed moulds 12, 12a, and carries stand bolts 64 which serve for the attachment of a pair of work cylinders, particularly ones working with compressed air. The afore mentioned parts belong to an extruder and a filling and inflating mandrel connected thereto and adapted to be raised and lowered, whose inflator has a conical seat 69 and whose filling pipe is marked with 70. A tube 8 1 of synthetic material is continuously pressed out from the extruder.

The chain wheels and 5a are adapted to be driven by means of a gear wheel 52- which meshes with a pinion 53 whose drive shaft is mounted in the mounting plate and extends therethrough. The drive shaft is the drive of a stepless adjustable regulating gear 55 which can be driven by a motor (not shown) by means of a V belt pulley 56. The gear wheel 52 meshes with a similarly designed gear wheel 52a which serves as the drive for the right-hand annular track.

An apparatus for the labelling of containers is provided laterally of the circular track shown on the left on the drawing. This has chain wheels 5d and 7d which are adapted to be driven by suitable means but within the knowledge of the skilled man at the same speed as the chain wheels 5 and 7 and are also mounted like the latter on the mounting plate 1d by means of pins or shafts. Two chain wheels are provided on each of the pins. Over these run, in all, two parallel chains 9d which serve to connect the carrier plates 11d. These carrier plates 11d are guided on application rails 30d on the side facing the circular track, and on the side remote therefrom by means of travel plates 45d which in correspondence with the travel plates 45, 46 may be designed to tension the chains 9d.

Each plate 11d carries a work cylinder 92 on whose piston rod a suction grab 93 is mounted. Each of the suction grabs is adapted by suitable means to be attached to or separated from, at will, a source of compressed air (not shown), for which purpose a distributor corresponding to the distributor 35 or 35a may be used.

A spring is mounted in the Work cylinder 92, which acts on the piston thereof" and urges the suction grab 93 outwardly. The work cylinder is adapted to be acted on, as desired, by means of a pressure medium, particularly compressed air, and thereby to displace the piston Within the work cylinder 92.

A stock 94 of labels is shown above the chain wheel 7d which has a hollow chamber 95 for the reception of stacked labels 96, which is downwardly open and in which the labels are retained by means of resting laterally on inwardly projecting rims running parallel to the direction of movement of the chain 9d.

A tube 81 of thermoplastic synthetic material particularly polyethylene passes out continuously from an extruder press (not shown), and is taken up by the halfmoulds 12 and 12a with formation of a lower closure part, the half-moulds being moved at a speed which corresponds to the outflow speed of the tube 81 of synthetic material. The cone 69 located within the tube 81 is subjected in the neck part of the subsequent container to the action of a work cylinder, with interposition of the tube of synthetic material on the half-moulds 12, 12a and moves with these halves for a given length of their travel. As soon as the half-moulds 12, 12a are closed they are connected to the source of reduced pressure so that the tube located in the half-moulds is moulded into a container. In the inflation and filling mandrel, the filling pipe is opened so that filling liquid can flow into the inflated container in a measured quantity from a source of filling liquid. During this step the pipe 70 is introduced into the container into the region of the base thereof to avoid as far as possible the formation of foam. During its inflation air, particularly compressed air, can be fed to the container, wherebyfor example by means of an excess pressure valvea pressure can be maintained in the container.

After the container has been filled with a predetermined amount of the filling material and the filling pipe 70 has been raised sufliciently, the head mould parts 13, 13a are closed and connected to the same source of reduced pressure as the half-moulds 12 and 12a were formerly, whereby after the welding of the end of the head by closure of the head mould parts, the head of the container is moulded. The reduced pressure may be maintained until the container by cooling has a sufficient strength. Subsequently, the filled, closed and adequately cooled container is released from the production mould by separation of the half moulds 12, 12a and of the head parts 13 and 13a falls onto a conveyor belt.

At the apparatus for labelling the containers, the work cylinder arranged below the stock of labels 96 and mounted on a trolley takes a label therefrom in that the pressure of the pressure medium in the cylinder decreases and thereby the suction grab 93 is applied to the lowest label under the action of the spring located in the cylinder. The lowest label remains adhering to the suction grab 93 which is subject to reduced pressure. The suction grab is then returned into the work cylinder by increasing the pressure therein. The suction grab 93 carries the label 96 along with it when the work cylinder 92 is drawn in.

As soon as the suction grab 93 holding a label lies opposite the half-mould associated with it and is moved in the same direction and at the same speed as the latter, by decreasing the pressure in the work-cylinder this is moved out so that the suction clamp rests on the base of the mould, with interposition of the label, under the action of the spring located in the work cylinder. The latter can be so designed that the suction grab rests thereon at a different pressure on the mould than on the stack of labels. A reduced pressure acts in the half-mould which serves to hold the label therein. To transfer the label, the reduced pressure in the suction grab 93 is decreased or the pressure increased. Before the carrier plate 11 leaves its track parallel to the half-mould, by increasing the pressure in the work cylinder 92 this is moved inwardly and the suction grab 93 is removed from the half-mould into which it has delivered the label previously held by it. Then, as soon as the suction grab 93 is located below the stock of labels 94, the suction grab 93 is again moved outward ly so that a label can be taken by the grab in the manner previously described. The work cylinder 92 is so arranged that its longitudinal axis is at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the half-moulds, at least when in the position of label transfer.

The label received by the half-mould is carried along with it and on inflation of the container an intimate connection is produced between the label and the container. In order to allow a reduced pressure to be effective in the half mould even on the surface occupied by the label, and latter is made porous.

The label may be coated, at least partially, with a thin film of thermoplastic synthetic resin or a heat sealing layer. The adhesive layer of the label is so designed that the label adheres securely to the container produced as described above.

The labels may be taken by the suction grab from a roll instead of a stack thereof.

The labelling apparatus may also be otherwise designed. The important thing is that at least the suction grab is moved a part of the way with the half-mould which is to be labelled.

I claim:

1. In a device for the production of containers made of thermoplastic material with annular tracks cooperating in pairs, which have halves of production molds cooperating mutually in pairs and arranged at equal intervals and movable on said annular tracks, the walls of which moulds can be connected periodically to a vacuum source,

including a device for labeling the containers which has a third annular track, disposed approximately in the same plane with the two other annular tracks and on one of the sides facing away from the closed halves of the production molds and which is driven with the same speed as the first two annular tracks and which runs partly parallel and in the same direction as one of the first annular tracks,

and including a supply of labels and with at leastone suction type label gripper movable on the third annular track, the improvement consisting in the provision of gripper supporting means including a shifting piston, said gripper being attached to said piston,

said piston being movable to engage the gripper against the supply of labels and against the inside of a mold half on the annular track adjoining the third annular track, and a fixed track, said gripper supporting means having a foot engaging said track.

2. A device according to claim 1, said gripper supporting means comprising a pressurized cylinder, said piston being movable in said cylinder, and spring means in said cylinder urging said piston to retracted position, said piston being movable outwardly against the force of said spring by an increase of the fluid pressure in said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,035,302 5/1962 Lysobey l8-4 C X 3,108,850 10/1963 Brandt 1855 3,306,803 2/1967 Holstein 156357 3,414,452 12/1968 Smith 15657l X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner I, M. HANLEY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

